Player Watch Player Watch: Richarlison

[EQP]

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

I am just going to throw this stat out there - do with it what you want.

Richarlison has started 17 league matches: 12-3-2 = 39 points, 2.3 points per match

In the 13 games Richarlison has not started: 5-3-5 = 18 points, 1.4 points per match


Even if you discount the first 10 games of the season - Richarlison started 7 of the them - Richarlison's recored as a starter: 6-2-2 = 20 points, 2.0 points per match.

 

[DannyNZ]

I am just going to throw this stat out there - do with it what you want.

Richarlison has started 17 league matches: 12-3-2 = 39 points, 2.3 points per match

In the 13 games Richarlison has not started: 5-3-5 = 18 points, 1.4 points per match


Even if you discount the first 10 games of the season - Richarlison started 7 of the them - Richarlison's recored as a starter: 6-2-2 = 20 points, 2.0 points per match.

Sadly he is a victim of competing with Son for that central role. Son was largely ineffective out on the left wing and produced good outcomes playing centrally. Think we’ll see Richy start centrally and Son revert to LW with Werner benched, Werner seems to generate polar views but was average against WH even if he produced one of the few moments of genuine quality.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Sadly he is a victim of competing with Son for that central role. Son was largely ineffective out on the left wing and produced good outcomes playing centrally. Think we’ll see Richy start centrally and Son revert to LW with Werner benched, Werner seems to generate polar views but was average against WH even if he produced one of the few moments of genuine quality.

This is what makes me wonder what would happen if we sold Richy and bought another CF. What happens to Son. Does he go back out wide. I’m skeptical if playing him on the wing again would be the best move for him at this stage. So if he stays at CF then what happens to the new CF we get? Back up one/rotation option ones assumes as we are hardly going to drop Son.

All that being said I would be very tempted to start Son out wide and Richy upfront for our game this weekend.

 

[TOLBINY]

This is what makes me wonder what would happen if we sold Richy and bought another CF. What happens to Son. Does he go back out wide. I’m skeptical if playing him on the wing again would be the best move for him at this stage. So if he stays at CF then what happens to the new CF we get? Back up one/rotation option ones assumes as we are hardly going to drop Son.

All that being said I would be very tempted to start Son out wide and Richy upfront for our game this weekend.

That's a good shout - but I wonder if part of the reason for Son playing central is that he has less tracking back to do than when out wide? Werner / Johnson / Kulu are often required to support the full back defensivley, and are up and down the pitch more.

 

[HildoSpur]

I honestly prefer it when we have Richy up front - he gives us a focal point, he can hold up the ball and is strong.

 

[ajspurs]

I honestly prefer it when we have Richy up front - he gives us a focal point, he can hold up the ball and is strong.

I get that it's not always the best option, but I personally don't think Son out wide is near as bad for us as many seem to think. It puts two genuine goalscorers in our front three with him and Richarlison, and ensures good delivery from either wing with Johnson on the other side.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

That's a good shout - but I wonder if part of the reason for Son playing central is that he has less tracking back to do than when out wide? Werner / Johnson / Kulu are often required to support the full back defensivley, and are up and down the pitch more.

For sure I think you’re right, that is probably part of it. Age and stamina probably plays a part in that also. Plus I think the role of the WF in this system to keep the width doesn’t necessarily suit him stylistically.

I’d still like to try him and Richy up top this weekend but I don’t think it’s a long term solution. It’s a bit of conundrum because I think we would be better with a more focal point in the box but you can’t drop Son as he is our best attacking player. Ether way it’s just food for thought when considering Richy’s future and if we were to get another striker in the summer.

 

[PCozzie]

I get that it's not always the best option, but I personally don't think Son out wide is near as bad for us as many seem to think. It puts two genuine goalscorers in our front three with him and Richarlison, and ensures good delivery from either wing with Johnson on the other side.

Remembering back to the start of the season Son and Udogie combined really well down the left with those little reverse passes in the box. I'm not sure Udogie has got on the same wavelength with either Werner or Johnson, when he's played on that side, and as a result has seemed more ponderous than I think is natural for him.

There are drawbacks too with having Son on the left, including his defensive work and tendency to come back inside, but I don't think we should be afraid to go back to Richarlison central and Son left, especially with Brennan Johnson now being very effective on the right and fizzing the ball across goal to the back post where, I'm sure, Son will find goals.

 

[McFlash]

I honestly prefer it when we have Richy up front - he gives us a focal point, he can hold up the ball and is strong.

I'm with you there.
Sonny, for all his finishing prowess just isn't a striker for me because he can't hold the ball up, is shit in the air and his touch/control can be erratic.
Richy has his faults but he's a better option up top currently.

I really thought we needed to get him on sooner against West Ham, although fitness doubts may have been a concern.
Both Timo and Son were struggling and I thought we were crying out for Richy through the middle and Sonny on the left.

 

[Japhet]

I get that it's not always the best option, but I personally don't think Son out wide is near as bad for us as many seem to think. It puts two genuine goalscorers in our front three with him and Richarlison, and ensures good delivery from either wing with Johnson on the other side.

He managed OK for years when Kane was in the middle. I just don't see Sonny as a reliable central striker because he blows so hot and cold. He also doesn't pose any aerial threat or find good positions in the box. Tin hat applied.

 

[DannyNZ]

He managed OK for years when Kane was in the middle. I just don't see Sonny as a reliable central striker because he blows so hot and cold. He also doesn't pose any aerial threat or find good positions in the box. Tin hat applied.

Think Son is fine centrally except where a team employs a low block and concedes possession to you. In that instance he just doesn’t have the presence and like yesterday drifts away and leaves us effectively without a CF. While Werner is getting slammed for not getting in on the balls acros the face of the goal we also didn’t have a CF in there.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I honestly prefer it when we have Richy up front - he gives us a focal point, he can hold up the ball and is strong.

Agree, think he’s been carrying a knock though so has only been able to manage 10 mins.

If he can get fully fit again I’d like to see : Son, Richy, Johnson.

Then can bring Werner & Kulu off the bench if needed.

 

[allatsea]

Richarlson is another in the squad who is good but not quite good enough for where we want to be.

 

[McFlash]

He managed OK for years when Kane was in the middle. I just don't see Sonny as a reliable central striker because he blows so hot and cold. He also doesn't pose any aerial threat or find good positions in the box. Tin hat applied.

I think you're right.
Apart from being able to finish with either foot, I don't know where this idea has come from that Sonny is best through the middle because he lacks so much of what a striker needs to be able to do.
His pace is better out wide and I think it could be said that his finishing is better suited there too.

He was good on the break, when Kane would drop deep, dragging the defence out and then playing him through to run on to but as our only striker, it doesn't work for me.
His pace is wasted against a deeper defence and he doesn't have the attributes to play in the box.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Richarlson is another in the squad who is good but not quite good enough for where we want to be.

Agree so question becomes do we keep him as a squad option or cash in for a decent chunk of change and get someone more suitable to Ange’s system.

 

[Tezza1978]

I get that it's not always the best option, but I personally don't think Son out wide is near as bad for us as many seem to think. It puts two genuine goalscorers in our front three with him and Richarlison, and ensures good delivery from either wing with Johnson on the other side.

This is 100% correct.

Son is a superb goalscorer, ruthless and brilliant on the counterattack and still has great pace given he isn't 20 anymore. But he is a second striker and not a focal point. Richy far better in the air and with his back to goal. Richy can clearly play across the front 3 competently as required (which is why we bought him given we still had Kane!) but best as a 9.

 

[Tezza1978]

Richarlson is another in the squad who is good but not quite good enough for where we want to be.

I think we would be far better signing a competitor to him rather than replacing him. We have enough money and enough players we can ship out to fund another striker. Veliz is clearly going to be loaned again after his limited minutes, hopefully he will be ready for us to step up for 2025/2026 season

 

[mil1lion]

I prefer Son wide against teams who park the bus. He just gets so little space central and he's far more effective when he can carry the ball. When the game is stretched and teams come at us he's great central. So I would play Richarlison Sunday as I think Forest will defend us and try to counter.

 

[bubble07]

Think our best front 3 is son richy johnson